Any Experience with a '75 Corvette?

[lnkncontiverto]

Here's the deal, my late uncle was a bit of a pack rat/extreme automobile afficianado. He left behind several low mile vehicles that have been in storage for at least a decade. One of said vehicles is this '75 corvette with under 5,000 original miles. He had bought this in '76 as a demo and has had it up on jack stands under a cover in the garage ever since. The only known issue with it is the driver door had a hole punched through the fiberglass; however, he has a NOS GM door sitting in the basement waiting for paint.

My question is, does anyone know if these are worth-while toys, or just another '70's GM Turd? I know this won't compare to my GN, but I'm curious if they are fun enough for me to convince my family to keep it. The values of 73-78ish vettes are considerably low, but none I have seen have been even close in mileage or condition, do you think the ridiculous mileage/ practically new condition is enough to bring its value over $15k?

Also, since I have been sourced with ressurecting it, any tips on start up procedure to bring the 350 back to life after 30 years of storage? I plan on oiling up the cylinders/draining and replacing the old fuel/oil. What am I forgetting?

Thanks!

 

[BandAid]

Wow,you are in the same boat as i am.. my dad has a 12k mile 75 convert Blue with a black top and silver leather,l48 car,loaded.. he was offered 20K for the car when it didnt sell on Ebay..he thinks its worth 30k I rebuilt the wheel cylinders all 4 leaked from sitting, flushed the braking system, oiled the cylinders for about a week,new battery and rebuilt the carb,..l48 is somewhere around 170-190hp so hold on

good luck

try www.corvetteforums.com
Big D

 

[Turbo Indian]

I am no expert, heck I'm not even a novis on them, but I would say when the market comes back you should not have ANY problems getting 15k out of something like that.

 

[kh440]

Hard to say value wise-on the one hand it is obscenely low miles, but on the other it is a 1975-not exactly the apex of performance for anybody, and who knows what you're going to run into when you get it going. In a good market best guess 15-18k would be fair market value. I would definitely add a brake fluid flush to the "to do list".

 

[Junior Samples]

Here's the deal, my late uncle was a bit of a pack rat/extreme automobile afficianado. He left behind several low mile vehicles that have been in storage for at least a decade. One of said vehicles is this '75 corvette with under 5,000 original miles. He had bought this in '76 as a demo and has had it up on jack stands under a cover in the garage ever since. The only known issue with it is the driver door had a hole punched through the fiberglass; however, he has a NOS GM door sitting in the basement waiting for paint.

My question is, does anyone know if these are worth-while toys, or just another '70's GM Turd? I know this won't compare to my GN, but I'm curious if they are fun enough for me to convince my family to keep it. The values of 73-78ish vettes are considerably low, but none I have seen have been even close in mileage or condition, do you think the ridiculous mileage/ practically new condition is enough to bring its value over $15k?

Also, since I have been sourced with ressurecting it, any tips on start up procedure to bring the 350 back to life after 30 years of storage? I plan on oiling up the cylinders/draining and replacing the old fuel/oil. What am I forgetting?

Thanks!

in a good market it would pull 15k with the miles it has, I would pull the motor, crate it and put a buick6 in it and go have fun

 

[Roc87]

My father had a '79 Vette back in the early 80's, wouldn't even break the tires loose power braking it here at 5k elevation. In phoenix it would spin a little . They handle great, just NO HP. Even in this market somebody on corvetteforum would probably give $15k-$20k like it sits.

 

[lnkncontiverto]

in a good market it would pull 15k with the miles it has, I would pull the motor, crate it and put a buick6 in it and go have fun

I like the turbo-6 idea, but....

One of his other cars that my father inherited, a Repro '32 Ford that has yet to be assembled, is scheduled to receive a trubo-6 implant, thanks to my continuous input on the matter.

:biggrin: Yet another chassis saved from a smallblock 350.:biggrin:

My father had a '79 Vette back in the early 80's, wouldn't even break the tires loose power braking it here at 5k elevation. In phoenix it would spin a little . They handle great, just NO HP. Even in this market somebody on corvetteforum would probably give $15k-$20k like it sits.

That's kind of what I figured. It would have been great if it was one of those 454's from the early 70's...

 

[qwks6]

only corvette ever made that was worse was the '74

 

[bobbin21]

That is a rare car being that it is has 5k miles. I would say it is worth 15000 to 25000 depending on the shape of it. You Need to find a Corvette collector.

 

[toofastforyou]

only corvette ever made that was worse was the '74

I dunno why you say that... You must've had some kind of bad experience with them to say that. I don't think that a '74 is worse than any other year...I've had a '76 and I liked it a lot and the only reason why I don't have it anymore was because I had two small kids at the time and there was not enough room in the car. I sold it to but my GN in which all the family could get in. If it wasn't for that reason, I'd probably still have it today. Also, the '74's to '77's were about the same except for a few unimportant cosmetic details. They're not muscle cars, but nice to cruise and drive around in...

Claude.

 

[qwks6]

It was just a bad year for corvettes. The smog rules kicked in and they couldn't figure out how to get hp and clean burns. The power was under 200 and the body started suffering. There are no bumpers for example, just ugly rubber things.

My dad owns one, it's pretty nice, but he's been wanting it gone for over a decade now. It's a '74. Just knowing the corvette history, that's when they couldn't make a good car. It really applys to all cars, it was just a bad era for US cars.

They are kinda fun to drive, but if stock they aren't THAT fun if you know what I mean.

 

["Turbo-T"]

They're good for running 16's in the 1/4 mile. And they probably run great on 87 octane with only an 8.5:1 compression.

 

[lnkncontiverto]

16's??! I think my wife's beetle runs 16s....

 

["Turbo-T"]

Yes...16's....maybe 15's on a real good day. You have to remember, the mid 70's is when cars not only got heavier, but hp ratings were usually in the 150-190 range, for a V8.

Heck for what it's worth the 1977-1979 Trans AM with the 400 was the fastest US production car of the late 70's and they only did 15's.

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

my dad has 77 with under 30k with 95% original parts and we think its worth in the 12-15k range. then again its black and they didnt make black from 70 until 77 and the production of black ones in 77 was pretty low too.

 

[lnkncontiverto]

my dad has 77 with under 30k with 95% original parts and we think its worth in the 12-15k range. then again its black and they didnt make black from 70 until 77 and the production of black ones in 77 was pretty low too.

Black would be nice. This one's canary yellow


To change gears a bit, any experience with an '85? The reason I ask is that parked right next to the '75 is an '85 4spd also with under 5k miles, and in immaculate condition. From what I have read, it sounds like a hoot, but I also have yet to fire her up

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

Black would be nice. This one's canary yellow


To change gears a bit, any experience with an '85? The reason I ask is that parked right next to the '75 is an '85 4spd also with under 5k miles, and in immaculate condition. From what I have read, it sounds like a hoot, but I also have yet to fire her up

85 is the first year for TPI.

 

[lnkncontiverto]

85 is the first year for TPI.

I was very happy to learn it wasnt one of those crossfire injection abortions.:smile:

 

[qwks6]

I like the 85 better, but still not a big fan.

I am a big fan of the 87 GN and the 64 continental convertible in your sig!!!

 

[lnkncontiverto]

I like the 85 better, but still not a big fan.

I am a big fan of the 87 GN and the 64 continental convertible in your sig!!!

Personally, I wasn't a big 85 fan, but after sitting in a showroom quality ride, its hard to poo poo it.

Thanks, the conti is my big buttercup.